of the same species and the same size they vary some- 

 times very much, and they vary also from year to year. 

 As ;i rule they are wider apart in the earlier stages of the 

 life of the tree, and gradually get closer until, when the 

 tree attains a considerable age, they are very close. Occa- 

 sionally one may count forty rings in an inch within 

 6 inches of the centre of a pitch pine log, but from the 

 author's note-book he has taken the following at random, 



[Photo by A. L. Oubridge. 



FIG. 2. Cross Section of 14-inch Pitch Pine Log. 



showing the variations in widths of rings in the coniferous 

 woods ; in the hardwoods they do not vary so much : 



Pitch pine logs, all sound] 



and good, for 2 inches h!4, 18, 18, 15, 18, 18 rings. 



out from centre of heart ) 

 ])o. do. next 2 inches 22, 30, 28, 24, 25, 20 rings. 



